Dowlais Ironworks 1840/1850's

[moggy]

Could any kind person advise exactly what a "puddler" and a "baller" performed please. These are the occupations described on the census's for my ancestors William Russell and his son John Russell.
Thanks, Jan

[bobw]

Hi Moggy I hope the following helps :- The puddling furnace made of iron plates and lined with firebricks, had two chambers. At one end was a firebox in which barrow-loads of coal were fiercely burning, the flames being carried by a draught into the second chamber [at 1500°C to 1800°C] which contained the charge of metal to be converted into wrought iron. After melting, the bath of molten metal began to 'boil', the carbon and impurities being oxidised by the flame. After some time the pure iron began to form flakes [wrought iron has a higher melting point than pig iron] and the work of the puddler was to keep the bath in motion with is 'rabble' [iron pole], and gradually collect the 'sticky' flakes into three large balls, much as you make a snowball. When this was done the furnace door was opened, and the iron withdrawn in the form of white hot soft lumps dripping with molten cinder. There were carried to the shingling hammer and quickly reduced to short oblong blocks called Blooms.

Baller ; iron industry worker
"When the metal begins to melt it is the business of the puddler to watch it from time to time until it is ready for what is technically called BALLING, i.e. dividing the metals into separate balls or quantities or puddle-rolls; which having been done, they are handed over to the shingler, who has the direction of a large and heavy hammer worked by steam or water power, and the rough hot metal is, by repeated blows brought to a more compact form for the rolling mill." From the Employment Commission reports 1842. Regards BobW

[moggy]

Thank you very much BobW for your very comprehensive and knowledgeable reply.
Jan (Moggy)

[rachelb]

How nice to see such a detailed description of the job.
Puddling was a very dangerous, highly skilled and therefore highly paid job.
I can't recall where I found the rates paid for the various types of work at this period, but I am sure you would be able to find it with the help of Google.
Rachel Bowen

[lendavies]

My grandfather was described in one census as a puddler and in another as a baller. I know very little about him and wondered if there are any staff records of the Dowlais Ironworks still in existence as I would really like to know his date of birth. There were too many Philip or Phillip Davies' in Merthyr Tydfil in 1871 and 1881. He died in Rhymney at he age of 39 in January 1890.
lendavies

[grahamsimons]

The Dowlais works' records are at the Glamorgan Archives. There is also a published history of the company - I came across a copy in the Society of Genealogists in London, but I guess that there are more copies to be found. It's A History of GKN by Edgar Jones, 1987.

[mdavies343]

Hi Moggy,
I ve just joined this site and was surprised to see someone interested in William and John Russell.John was my Great Grandfather.Hannah was my Grandmother.

[rkymtnron]

Hi grahamsimons:
Since you mentioned some familiarity with the company's archives, I have a question. I've been told that the company manufactured an inverted "U" shaped railroad rail, sometimes refered to as "The Evans Patent" design, during the period being referenced on this thread.

I'm trying to trace the source of the rail used to construct the Panama Railway (1852-1855). This rail was said, by some sources, to be 53 Lb./yd. Other sources say 40 Lb. or 42 LB. so I can't exactly be sure. The railway records do not seem to mention the source of the rail that was used, unfortunately.

Any additional data would be very helpful for me.

[grahamsimons]

Not sure that I can help you on this one. What I do have is a transcript of a patent held by Thomas Evans, Managing Agent of the Dowlais Works, of 1838:

A.D.l838, March 10.- N° 7590.

EVANS, THOMAS.-"An improved rail for railway purposes, together with the mode of manufacturing and fastening down the same."
It consists in a rail with a dovetail or other catch grove in its under side, whereby it may be held firmly down; also in rolling the said rails in a series of peculiarly-shaped grooves in ro1lers to form the said dovetail or catch groove by rolling; and in certain plugs for fastening down the rails, which fit into and may be slid along the said groove and keyed down to chairs placed at any distance from each other along the line of the rail.

[landgraf]

Hi friends,
Are there iron product catalogs of 1850? I wonder if they mentioned mechanical properties when they sold iron or steel back then. From John Percy's book , 1864, I know Tensile Strenght was known.
thanks.

[jimmyboy]

hi was wondering if any one know anything about a noah jones he was a padder in the iron works in 1881 he lived at north st and then 13 George st 1891 thanks jimmy boy

[neil16377]

hi, all..ive joined the forum in the hope of some help, i am in the middle of doing a family tree, and have trace a Lot of family back to M/T, especially pentrebach/dowlais, my great x4 grandfather DANIEL Evans 1834 and his son Evan Evans was there from 1850-onwards, daniel being a paddler. also a lot of referance to william evans and thomas evans both Being down on the 1911 census as Engine workers/underground engine?

im hoping to get more information, where could get info of them acctualy working at dowlais?,, thanks for reading...neil